Overcoming in Marriage

Have you been enjoying the testimonies from the Overcome Series? I hope so! Today you’ll hear from my friend, Shannon. She is fun, loves Jesus and is passionate about helping others walk in their destinies!

Last week me, my husband and daughter went to our favorite local Mexican restaurant. He had just arrived home after a week-long business trip. As we got caught up on the week’s events I couldn’t help but notice the sweet elderly couple sitting across from us. They both had years of wrinkles splattered across their face that seemed to carve a map of their lives together.

Years of happiness, adventures, and utter heartbreak no doubt were some of the paths on their map.

They were a beautiful couple. I could tell that they loved each other deeply and did not take each other for granted. As they got up to leave, being frail and fragile himself, the man helped his wife up and they grasped hands, each helping each other walk out of the restaurant.

Aside from going to heaven, they had made it. All of the good and bad times had brought them to that moment.

There’s no doubt that this couple had gone through hell to get to where they were. Because you see, that’s life.

About 10 years ago my marriage was severely broken. It was so broken, that those around us just assumed that it wouldn’t survive. There was just no way that it could overcome the devastation.

And honestly it probably wouldn’t have if it would have been left up to just me and my husband. We were too weak. Not strong enough. Every ounce of might that we had disappeared like vapor in the wind.

The damage was too much. The betrayal too deep. Hearts that were once whole were shattered into a million tiny little pieces.
And there was no hope.

Marriage is hard enough on its own, but overcoming infidelity in marriage is 1000 times harder.

But we overcame.Not because of anything we did, but because of everything HE did.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

You see what He did there? He came to HEAL the brokenness in my marriage. He came to put the shattered pieces of our lives back together.

That’s why He came.

Do you see that? Do you?

It doesn’t matter what your going through in your own marriage, the reason JESUS CHRIST came to this earth was to restore what was lost!

Because of Jesus, we were able to take what was meant to destroy us and turn it around.

How?

And they overcame because of the blood of the Lamb… Revelation 12:11

By the blood of the lamb. That’s how. There’s just no other explanation.

Jesus died and overcame, and because of that we too can overcome. He paid the ultimate price so that WE could overcome. But it only comes through Him.

Jesus and hard work every single day.

It takes communication and counseling.

It took coming to each other, bare, vulnerable and raw.

It took years for restoration to complete itself in our marriage, and now looking back, all of the hard work was worth every single heart-breaking effort.

We used our painful experience to grow together as a couple and grow individually.

God never promised any of us an easy marriage, and it angers me how Hollywood portrays married life. Romantic movies boast kisses and morning love making sessions as if it’s a fairy tale. It causes daughters, sisters, nieces, etc., everywhere to dream and fantasize about their future lives as wives. Then, reality strikes and they figure out that it really isn’t a fairy tale at all…and the decision to stay together and work it out becomes an unattractive option rather than the most important option.

I’m a total sucker for romantic movies, I assure you, but I also know that it’s not reality. I mean let’s just be honest. I love my husband with everything in me, but kissing him first thing in the morning is not on the top of my list. After coffee, toothpaste and a toothbrush, maybe. But not until then! <He’s still cute though>

As young people we dream about married life and then when any kind of tragedy or blow strikes we want to run and hide. Because, of course, that’s the easy thing to do, right?

I want to encourage you today.

Do the hard work of overcoming in your marriage. You CAN do it. But only through Jesus Christ.

It’s been 10 years since a devastating blow almost destroyed my marriage. There are still times I look back and mourn and weep only because I’m so grateful for the life I’ve been given. John and I fought for each other. We fought to save our marriage and ultimately save the lives of our beautiful daughters so that one day, when they get married they will know how to overcome. Today we are so very genuinely happy and joyful. We’re a team.

We overcame.

About the Author

Shannon is fun-loving and authentic. She loves big and she loves fierce. At the top of that love list is Jesus, her husband John and her two daughters, Alex and Averee. She’s a woman who has been rescued and restored. She believes every woman has a calling and Shannon has a passion to see women everywhere rise up into who God has designed them to be. Although a book is in her future, you can currently read her blog at www.shannongeurin.com.

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Comments

Shannon, this message is one which needs to be shouted from the rooftops! Hollywood has done us and our daughter such a disservice in its depiction of the fairytale. Marriage takes such tenacity, such will to fight for the “big picture”, and there are times the fighting is simply for a future of overcoming for our children. And in the midst of this hard work, God strengthens us to overcome also. Thank you so much for this encouragement and real picture of creating the fairytale. Blessings and hugs, Crystal~

I love your story of hope! Thanks for sharing that it is possible to work through the darkest moments of marriage! Choosing to love and forgive when it doesn’t make sense is powerful! A true love story!

This is so good. Sometimes sheer grit and overcoming is what it takes. I’ve been through a lot with my husband, times when I wondered if we could make it, but Jesus overcame for us. I’m so thankful for him today.

Alisa, I totally forgot you were doing this awesome series until I came across one of your Pins tonight. Thank you for finding amazing, brave women to share their stories. My hope for my marriage is dwindling and I needed all this encouragement to keep fighting.

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